News

The AGM of the Roscommon GAA Supporters Club in Dublin has been set for Tuesday 14th January commencing at 8.30pm. in Mayes of 45 Dorest Street, Dublin.1. All Roscommon Supporters in the Greater Dublin Region are invited to attend. A special invitation is extended to younger Roscommon Supporters in Dublin to study or work.

The club has also announced details of their ANNUAL ROSCOMMON DINNER IN DUBLIN which will take place in the fashionable DARWINS RESTAURANT, Aungier Street, Dublin.2. The chosen date is Saturday night 22nd February 2014 and tickets are now on sale at €55 per person. The new format for the annual event adopted last year - that of a RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE whereby all patrons choose their food from extensive menus- has been retained. Darwins is an award winning restaurant located in a most fashionable part of the South City. Tickets for the annual dinner are now available from any member of the Supporters Club in Dublin or directly from the club secretary; Breasal O Caollai, 8 Royal Terrace West, Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin Tel; 086-0745402.

The number of county players accessing the GPA Confidential Counselling Service trebled in 2013 according to the Association’s annual review of the Programme published today (attached).

By the end of October 2013, 94 players had engaged with the Programme which provides a dedicated members phone line, one-to-one counselling and residential treatment for players suffering distress in their lives.

This represented a 203% growth in the number engaging directly with the service this year.

The GPA published today’s review to highlight the availability of the Programme throughout the Christmas holidays including Christmas day and to outline the GPA’s internal mental health campaign for 2014.

Speaking about the publication, GPA Chief Executive Dessie Farrell commented: “We have published this short review of our Mental Health Programme today firstly to highlight the increase in the level of engagement from county players with this service and secondly to draw attention to the availability of the nationwide service over Christmas, a period which can sometimes prove difficult for those in distress.

“We also want to indicate our intention to establish a specific campaign in 2014 aimed at encouraging players to engage with our mental health program and services with a focus on changing the culture within our membership.

“The death by suicide of Galway’s Niall Donohue has sharpened the focus on our challenge. We know we must redouble our efforts to make sure that the young men in society struggling with distress are encouraged to engage with support, that we hear the call and recognise the signs of their distress.”

While the GPA service is strictly confidential, trends are articulated by the counsellors with depression and gambling addiction representing over half of the cases presented in 2013. Three players have also received residential treatment care for addiction issues.

GPA Mental Health ambassadors; Offaly footballer Niall McNamee and Cavan goalkeeper Alan O’Mara; both of whom were supported through the Programme, were on hand today to promote the review. Also joining them was Dublin and St Vincent’s footballer Ger Brennan, a GPA ambassador with Headstrong and former Cork hurler and prominent mental health activist Conor Cusack.

A large cross section of the GAA Community of County Roscommon converged on the Abbey Hotel, Roscommon on Monday night last, December 16th for a presentation by the Roscommon GAA Football Review Group.

The evening began with an introduction by the Vice Chairperson of Roscommon GAA County Board Seamus Sweeney, who explained that the Review developed following a discussion on why the sustained success and competitiveness of many Roscommon under-age teams in recent years had not led to a change of fortunes for the Senior Football team and what structures could be put in place to help player's transition. Following the initial discussion a review of current practices was proposed and a Steering Group was formed in late August to drive the process. During the months that followed four key areas: Clubs and Competition Structures; Team Development; Infrastructure and Finance were identified and working groups were tasked with examining current practices and making proposals which would help achieve the aims of the teams. Clubs and players were at the forefront of the review process with the Steering Group keen to engage with as many people as possible. Three open meetings were held throughout the county, 25 submissions were received from interested parties and a series of surveys were conducted with Clubs. The groups also consulted widely outside the county and all the elements were combined to produce a series of recommendations which Mr. Sweeney, who is the Chairperson of the Steering Group, believes could lead to a National title win at adult level.

Club players were to the fore of many of the proposals on the night and the first presentation came from the Club Structures and Competitions group. In opening his presentation Kevin McStay, Chairperson of the group acknowledged the fine level of performances by some Roscommon Club and County teams during the year gone by; All-Ireland Club Champions, All-Ireland Minor Semi-Finalists, Three teams in Connacht Club Finals last month and so on. The story was not all positive however and commenting on the need for change in competitions Mr. McStay noted that one County Finalist had only one point after the group stages, while teams with four points did not progress beyond the Quarter-Finals. Although this example was not intended to be disrespectful to the Club involved it was an example of the flawed nature of the current Senior and Intermediate Championship structure which was voted in by Clubs a number of years ago. His group put forward a series of proposals which would see a reduction in the number of League Games (at most grades) and an exciting new format for the Adult Football Championships, with an increased number of games. The format, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the country, will see teams who win group games being rewarded for their efforts while developing / recently promoted teams will have an opportunity to “find their feet” and gain experience at a higher grade. If approved, these proposals would come into effect in 2015 with placings being based of teams placings in the 2014 competitions - adding an extra edge to proceedings for the forthcoming season. There were also a series of proposals in relation to underage grades, most notably the introduction of “Regional Championships” at Under 15 and Under 17 level which would offer an opportunity for all players, regardless of Club status, to win a Grade A Championship and give players from “smaller” or lower level Clubs the opportunity to impress County Management. Additional competitions are proposed for Under 13 and Under 15 level while the Under 21 Championship would be replaced by and Under 20 competition.

Next up was Ciaran Heneghan, the Chairperson of the Team Development Group. The former Roscommon Under 16 manager began by outlining a list of achievements by Roscommon teams over the past few years and posing the question “If it’s not broken why change it?”. The answer, as demonstrated by anecdotes about a number of highly successful individuals, was for individuals and teams to “change before they had to” in order maintain an advantage over rivals. In order to put the conditions in place Roscommon's players to achieve success the group spoke to many successful teams and also looked beyond Gaelic Games to professional sports such as Soccer, Rugby and Australian Rules teams in order to develop a code of best practice in the areas of Talent Identification, Coach Education and Support Services. These categories will be the “foundation pillars” of a new “ROSSIE” Football Academy. As well as this new county level structure a series of other proposals were made including a pilot programme for a series of new “Development Hubs/Clusters” of Clubs and Schools which would be supported by Coaching and Games Development staff /the ROSSIE Football Academy to give many Club Players a new level of Coaching while also assisting with “talent” (Player/Coach) Identification & Development.

Both areas provoked much debate in the questions and answers sessions that followed with the proposals being positively received among the large attendance.

Following a short interval Padraig Naughton, Chairperson of the Infrastructure Group, took to the stage and began by saying that the proposals of his group were based around player welfare, not just facilities and fields. The impact of the large number of Club and County Players who live and work outside the county formed the basis of one of their main proposals - a trial of collective midweek training for Club players based in Dublin. A survey conducted by the group showed that almost 200 players are based in Dublin with 60% travelling back to Roscommon during the week for training. Subject to demand, the trial will be carried out for a six week spell in January and with the aim of players more rest and recovery time while also cutting down on transports costs. If the trial proves successful the formula could be replicated in cities such as Galway, Sligo and Limerick which, according to the survey, have a large number of Roscommon players.

The presentation also dealt with the many misconceptions and myths surrounding the location of the proposed Centre of Excellence and also proposed that, where possible, County Finals be played away from Dr. Hyde Park for the foreseeable future due to the lack of atmosphere and poor facilities for players and supporters.

The last presentation of the evening was by David O'Connor, Chairperson of the Finance Group. Their remit covered a wide range of topics from Sponsorship, to Gate Receipts and they delivered a variety of exciting ideas, the highlight being an innovative fundraising campaign which will assist Clubs and County Teams in all codes of Gaelic Games; not just the County Football Teams. The campaign will be launched in January and will include many benefits for members while also providing the funds to implement the proposals mentioned above and contributing to all forms of Gaelic Games.

Seamus Sweeney brought the night's proceedings to a close by thanking everybody who helped at the event and all those who engaged with and contributed to the project over the past few months. He paid a special tribute to the members of the Steering Group and the four Working Groups for their energy and dedication and he hoped that this would continue through the implementation stages.

No decisions on the recommendations made by the groups were voted on at the meeting and, where required, proposals will be formed into motions and put before Club Delegates at an EGM of the County Board and at the Annual “Special Fixtures Meeting” which will take place in early January.

Yesterday, the Dean
Crowe Theatre played host to the Roscommon GAA Scór na nÓg
Championship Finals 2013. A large audience was treated to an evening
of top class entertainment provided by young GAA members from clubs
all over the county. The competition was keen throughout the varied
programme and a wonderful atmosphere of celebration and rivalry
ensued as destination of county titles was decided. In the Rince
Foirne, St. Dominics A team prevailed despite the gallant efforts of
Kilglass Gaels, St. Dominics B and St. Croans. The Solo Singing
discipline saw St. Barry’s Peter Hoey retain the title he won last
year with his rendition of “My Cavan Girl” and in doing so he
overcame Freda Beirne and Genevieve Cox of Kilglass Gaels and Danny
Arnold of Athleague. The Ceol Uirlise proved a very entertaining
affair with all groups turning in lively performances. St. Michaels
emerged as victors here at the expense of St. Dominics, Elphin and
Shannon Gaels. St. Aidan’s Katie Heneghan proved a very popular
winner in the Recitation. Her delivery of “The Ballad of Moll
McGee” saw off the challenge of Cormac Hoare from Kilglass and
Roisin Kenny and Patrick Mulloolly of St. Dominics. Undoubtedly the
highest standard of the night was on display in the Léiriú
competition. All four groups turned in excellent performances with
dramas based on historical themes from Ireland’s past. Padraig
Pearses B team were awarded the coveted county crown defeating St.
Domincs, Padraig Pearses A and Elphin. In the Ballad Group event St.
Croans, St. Barrys and Athleague all gave fantastic performances but
it was reigning champions St. Dominics that retained the title. The
final discipline of the night was the Set Dancing. Tulsk, St.
Domincs, Elphin and Kilmore battered the floor with great abandon
with the Knockcroghery girls emerging as winners. Padraig Pearses
were also awarded their county award for the new Scór Table Quiz
held a week previous. Na Piarsaigh will now go straight to the All
Ireland Final in February.

The newly crowned county
champions will now go forward to represent their clubs and Roscommon
in the Connacht final to be held in the TF Theatre Castlebar on
Saturday 25th of January. Coiste Scór would like to thank
the Dean Crowe Theatre and all of the hall committees that hosted
Scór rounds this year. We would especially like to thank all of the
clubs, competitors and officials for their efforts over this year’s
competition. We wish our winners all of the best of luck going
forward and hope Roscommon clubs can qualify for the national finals.
Ros Comáin Abú!

The Roscommon GAA Annual Convention took place last night in Dangan Community Centre, Kilmore. There were a number of elections on the night with Brian Carroll (Kilmore) winning the contest for Secretary; John Corcoran (St. Dominics), retaining his position as Connacht Council Delegate and Brian Stenson (Castlerea St. Kevins) winning a close contest for the second position. Elsewhere, Valerie Murray (Michael Glaveys) is the new Assistant Secretary and Seamus Nugent (Kilglass Gaels) is the new Assistant Treasurer.

As well as the elections there was also great interest in the many motions down for decision. The first motion of the night, from Naomh Bríd called on the County Committee to appoint a Sub-Committee to examine the distribution of Operating Payments to Clubs and Counties from Central Funds, with a view to enabling smaller counties breach the gap with large counties, was carried unanimously.

A second, and similar motion, from Naomh Bríd calling on Ard Comhairle to set up a Committee to examine the distribution of government funding to various sporting organisations at all levels with a view to ensuring that the GAA gets it fair share of grants at club level was also carried unanimously.

Naomh Bríd put forward a motion that a "7 day rule be introduced" which would mean that clubs have exclusive access to all their players in the seven days leading up to Club Championship games was carried, after some debate. A similar motion from Clann na nGael was withdrawn in favour of the St. Brigids motion.

Gaeil Cill Glaise called for the National Scór Congress be reinstated in order to give clubs and grassroots members an opportunity to have their say in competitions and organisational structures. This motion was carried unanimously and a similar motion from St. Dominics was withdrawn in favour of the Kilglass Gaels motion

A motion from Gaeil Ros Comáin calling for the Roscommon Senior Hurling Championship runners-up to be allowed entry to the Connacht Club Junior Championship.

A motion from Mainister na Buille regarding the addition of 30 seconds of playing time for each substitute introduced late in games as a method of "time wasting" was widely debated and although a number of amendments were also proposed, which may have eased its implementation, the motion was lost.

Another motion from Mainister na Buille regarding the rules governing the maximum of players on a "Team Party" (Panel) be changed to allow all Panellists to be included was carried unanimously.

The Final motion came from the Management Committee and involved the restructuring of the PR and Marketing Committee. It was carried unanimously

On Monday next, December 16th, the Roscommon GAA Football Review Group will present the findings and recommendations of their research at an open meeting in the Abbey Hotel, Roscommon.

The Group, which consists of Roscommon County Board Vice-Chairperson Seamus Sweeney, Culture and Irish Officer Thomas Murray; former Minor Team Manager Garreth Carroll; Members Draw Co-Ordinator David O’Connor; Games Manager Willie Hegarty and Coaching Officer Pat Compton has been meeting regularly since September and began by identifying four focus areas and accordingly, four working groups were established:

Development of County Teams, chaired by Ciarán Heneghan, which has examined Inter-County Teams from U-14 to Senior Level and will make proposals to ensure the continuing development of players and teams at all grades.

An Infrastructure Group, chaired by Padraig Naughton which has reviewed the current facilities available to inter-county teams in Roscommon and examined best practice used in other counties.

The Finance Working Group, chaired by David O’Connor, which has reviewed the current fundraising and commercial activities of Roscommon GAA and has examined new avenues and methods of generating income in order to implement the proposals put forward by the overall Review Group as well as the long term aims of the Board.

A group, chaired by Kevin McStay, has focused on Clubs and Competitions and has carried out a root and branch review of Club Structures in Co. Roscommon including an assessment of current Competitions and an examination of Clubs in the current climate of changing population patterns.

The process has seen all the groups consult widely, throughout the country and beyond, with a series of open meetings, in the Percy French Hotel, Strokestown; Abbey Hotel and the Hodson Bay Hotel and the opportunity given to the public to submit observations and proposals via email, offering a great insight and setting the foundations for many proposals.

It is important to note that the Group has also worked in conjunction with the Roscommon Hurling Committee, who are at the concluding stages of their review of Hurling activities and structures.

Monday's Presentations will be followed by questions and answers sessions and Clubs will then have an opportunity to reflect on the recommendations ahead of a “Special Convention” to adopt the findings, which will be held in January.

The Presentations will get under way at 7:30pm sharp and all are welcome.

Congratulations to the team Padraig Pearses team of Seán Ó Murchu Flynn, Kelvin Kelly, Hubert Darcy and Liam Creavin who won the first Scór na nÓg Question Time title held under the new format. They will now represent Roscommon in the All-Ireland Table Quiz Final, which will be held on the eve of the Scór na nÓg Final on March 1st 2014.

Roscommon GAA would like to thank Quiz Master Aidan Dockery and all the teams for their in the competition.

Elsewhere, the remaining County Finalists are currently preparing for their big day in the Dean Crowe Theatre, Athlone on this Sunday, December 15th. This is an all-ticket affair and has been a sold out event for the past few years, so early booking is essential for those seeking tickets. Tickets can only be booked from the Dean Crowe’s ticket box on 090 64 92129 or online at www.deancrowetheatre.com

Five GAA inter-county players have been awarded scholarships to study at the prestigious Dublin City University Business School as part of the Gaelic Players’ Association (GPA) Player Development Programme which supports players in their personal development, thus ensuring a sport-life balance.

Leitrim footballer Rob Lowe and former Fermanagh player Chris Breen have been granted GPA/DCU scholarship places on the Executive MBA Programme in DCU, widely recognised as the degree of choice for rising executives with ambitions to become leaders in the business world.

Kilkenny’s Richie Hogan and Roscommon’s David Keenan have also been awarded scholarships to complete Masters programmes in Business Management and Finance respectively, marking the first year in which the GPA/DCU Business School partnership has offered scholarships for postgraduate studies. All-Ireland finalist Rob Hennelly (Mayo) also received a full GPA scholarship for his Masters in Digital Marketing.

Lowe and Breen will bring to nine the tally of GAA players who have benefitted from the scholarship programme over the last four years. They will join current GPA/DCU Business School MBA scholars and All-Ireland medal winners, Denis Bastick (Dublin) and Jason Sherlock (Dublin) in undertaking a two-year, part-time MBA programme. Previous scholarship recipients include Patrick Quinn (Sligo), Michael Martin (Louth), Justin McNulty (Laois) and Colin Moran (Dublin).

The DCU MBA programme is aimed at established and mid-career business professionals and technical and engineering specialists who want to make the transition to senior management positions. Participants are typically drawn from a variety of industry sectors, including financial services, manufacturing and technology, as well as the public and not-for-profit sectors.

Speaking about the announcement, GPA CEO Dessie Farrell said: “I’d like to congratulate Rob and Chris on receiving their scholarships for the Executive MBA in DCU. This is a life-changing opportunity for both players and it is wonderful that we are now celebrating the fourth intake of players under the joint scholarship scheme. I would also like to congratulate Richie and David on receiving GPA/DCU Business scholarships and Rob Hennelly who is receiving a full GPA scholarship for their masters programmes. I have no doubt that these scholarships will help them in their personal development and to broaden their career opportunities. Our commitment to the education of our players through the GPA Player Development Programme continues to strengthen and DCU Business School has helped lead the way with the MBA and full-time masters’ scholarships.”

The Dean of DCU Business School, Anne Sinnott commented: “We are delighted to continue our association with the Gaelic Players Association by offering the 2013 DCU/GPA MBA scholarships to Rob and Chris as well as the awarding of the full-time masters scholarships to Richie and David. We also welcome Rob Hennelly to the Business School. The players have been a great addition to our student cohort and have brought many skills from the playing field to the classroom – something that enhances the learning experience for all of the students on their programmes. We are delighted to have them as graduates and students. The partnership with the GPA is very important to us and we look forward to this continuing for many years to come.”

The new Scór Quiz will take place in Kilbride Community Centre on this Saturday December 7th at 4pm. Clubs can enter teams of 4 competitors and the quiz will consist of 10 rounds of 10 questions. Questions will be based on